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[NCAA] Week 6: Marvin Harrison Jr., the new wonder?

October 8, 2023

Every Sunday, the DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the NCAA championship and the players eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Offensive Player of the Week: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State)

His match (against Maryland): 8 receptions, 163 yards, 1 touchdown

Is he reinventing the receiver position? Watching his game against Maryland, that seems to be the case. Marking, hands, route tree, speed, body control, the qualities are lacking to qualify the Ohio State receiver, although injured in an ankle.

Facing an undefeated Terrapins team (37-17 victory for Ohio State), with a good pair of cornerbacks, Marvin Harrison Jr. showed off (once again) his talent. He had his best game in number of receptions and yards. In this game, you just have to see the play made for him on a 2nd & 33. With a reception behind his outside shoulder from his receiver, he got Ohio State out of an uncomfortable situation.

His 4th touchdown of the season is also proof of a foolproof mentality. After the cancellation of a touchdown a few seconds ago, his quarterback Kyle McCord found it again to definitively seal the game. All the traits of a future No. 1 receiver are there. A lot of NFL scouts are going to have a hard time not considering him as such.

Offensive mentions

  • Malik Nabers (WR, LSU): 6 receptions, 146 yards, 1 touchdown
  • Jermaine Burton (WR, Alabama): 9 receptions, 197 yards, 2 touchdowns
  • Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia): 7 receptions, 132 yards, 1 touchdown
  • Brealon Allen (RB, Wisconsin): 21 carries, 101 yards, 1 touchdown
  • Jawhar Jordan (RB, Louisville): 21 carries, 152 yards, 2 touchdowns
  • Walter Rouse (OT, Oklahoma)

The race behind Marvin Harrison Jr. to be the 2nd receiver called up for the 2024 Draft behind Marvin Harrison Jr. is raging. Malik Nabers may have taken advantage of the rest of the Oregon and Washington teams to take a few steps ahead. The LSU receiver was decisive by scoring the touchdown, putting his team ahead in the score.

He was considered a while ago, not anymore today. Despite everything, Jermaine Burton shone this weekend against Texas A&M, despite a lost fumble. What if the 2nd receiver called might not be a pure receiver, but a tight end? Brock Bowers once again exceeded 100 receiving yards. With his 24th touchdown in his college career, he overtakes a certain AJ Green as a touchdown scorer at the University of Georgia.

In a less qualitative crop of running backs than last year, Braelon Allen and Jawhar Jordan stood out. If the first has been irregular since the start of the season and still commits fumbles, the second is in the process of breaking all his university career records. His match against Notre Dame could further increase his rating. If both runners can read the gaps created by Oklahoma tackle Walter Rouse, it could be even more beneficial.

Excellent against Texas, the left tackle was decisive on the touchdown in Oklahoma’s victory over Texas. Rouse blocked 2 Texas defenders single-handedly (!) to allow his quarterback Dillon Gabriel to throw the winning touchdown (see elsewhere).

Could have been mentioned: Jacob Cowing (WR, Arizona), Kimani Vidal (RB, Troy), Devin Neal (RB, Kansas), Trey Benson (RB, Florida State), Erick All (TE, Iowa), Luke McCaffrey (WR , Rice), Elijhah Badger (WR, Arizona State)

Quarterback of the week: Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)

His match (against Syracuse): 33/47, 14 carries, 497 yards, 4 touchdowns

After a mixed start to the season, the Tar Heels quarterback had to raise his head. Objective achieved with his first game of the season with 3 touchdowns thrown. Perhaps invigorated by the good news regarding his main receiver Devontez Walker, Drake Maye has evolved to the level we mainly saw last season.

Possessing the morphology of a franchise quarterback (1.93m, 102 kilos), he has perhaps caught up with Caleb Williams. Great reads, with a very good football IQ, he has improved in the timing of his throws, always with the same precision. However, he still needs to improve in managing defensive pressure and holding the ball. In the game against Syracuse (40-7 victory for North Carolina), he committed another lost fumble.

Quarterback mentions

  • Dillon Gabriel (QB, Oklahoma): 23/38, 14 carries, 398 yards, 2 touchdowns
  • Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU): 15/21, 15 carries, 489 yards, 3 touchdowns
  • Carson Beck (QB, Georgia): 28/35, 389 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
  • JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan): 14/20, 236 yards, 3 touchdowns

Obviously, the man of the match for the Red River Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas is called Dillon Gabriel. Well protected, identifying blitzes well, he used his legs intelligently to win the first attempts. Another quarterback using his legs well: Jayden Daniels. The LSU quarterback is even more and more precise with his arm. Expected towards the end of the Draft, the 2 quarterbacks could create a surprise to be potential understudies in the NFL.

But, there are also quarterbacks who know how to manage their pocket offered by their offensive line. Carson Beck and JJ McCarthy are among them. In addition to being accurate with their arm, they are improving in their reads. The Michigan player is in the conversation to be in the first 3 rounds. On the other hand, the one from Georgia might have to go through an extra year of university.

Could have been mentioned: DJ Uiagalelei (QB, Oregon State), Kyle McCord (QB, Ohio State), Kurtis Rourke (QB, Ohio)

Defensive Player of the Week: Edgerrin Cooper (LB, Texas A&M)

His match (against Alabama): 11 tackles, 3 sacks

Best tackler and best pass rusher on his team before this match, Edgerrin Cooper burst onto the screen this weekend. Facing Alabama and its offensive line of future NFL players, the linebacker was monstrous. This hasn’t always been the case for a Texas A&M defense that has performed inconsistently since the start of the season. In addition to tackling everything that moves in ground games, he also managed to reach the quarterback 3 times. Unfortunately, he did not prevent his team’s defeat against Alabama (26-20).

An indisputable starter since last season, Edgerrin Cooper is versatile. Used in coverage in previous seasons, he has improved a lot in pass rush this season. In 6 games, he has already made 7 sacks. Measuring 1m91 and 104 kilos, he has the physical attractions of a linebacker for the NFL. Athletic, he is capable of making the change between sacking the quarterback and covering. However, he could improve in the speed department so he can better cover the assigned receiver.

In a crop of linebackers poor in quality, but necessary in an NFL rotation, his projection is more towards the 3rd day (4th-7th round). Given his performance, a selection on the 2nd day (2nd-3rd round) may now be possible.

Defensive mentions

  • Ty’Ron Hopper (LB, Missouri): 8 tackles, 1 sack
  • Justin Eboigbe (DT, Alabama): 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks
  • Gabriel Murphy (EDGE, UCLA): 4 tackles, 1 sack (2.5 tackles for loss)
  • Josh Proctor (S, Ohio state): 7 tackles (including 1.5 for loss), 1 interception (1 TD)
  • Kamari Lassiter (CB, Georgia): 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 2 passes defended

NFL teams lacking linebackers could look to Missouri. Ty’Ron Hopper may have the physique of a safety. But, he tackles like a linebacker. Very good athletically, he has interesting potential. Enough to be taken from the 2nd day of the future Draft.

This week, the pass rushers were effective. In a game with 11 combined sacks between Alabas and Texas A&M, Justin Eboigbe was poison. Experienced, the defensive tackle can be the right move in this Draft. Much like Gabriel Murphy, the pass rusher was a perfect complement to Laiatu Latu for UCLA against early season sensation Washington State.

Hats off to Ohio State’s defense for stopping Maryland’s offense. If the potential 1st round JT Tuimoloau has woken up, the prize goes to Josh Proctor. The safety intercepted Taulia Tagovailoa for a touchdown, and changed the course of a poorly started game for the Buckeyes. Same thing for Georgia against Kentucky. With the added bonus of a very good performance from a player that we could see from the 2nd round: cornerback Kamari Lassiter.

Could have been mentioned: JT Tuimoloau (EDGE, Ohio State), Maason Smith (DT, LSU), Jer’Zhan Newton (DT, Illinois), Cole Godbout (DT, Wyoming), Dallas Turner (LB, Alabama), JD Bertrand (LB, Notre Dame), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB, Georgia), Billy Bowman Jr. (S, Oklahoma), Lanthan Ransom (S, Ohio State), Cooper DeJean (CB, Iowa)

Disappointment of the week: Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame)

Notre Dame’s offensive line was being tested against Louisville’s defensive line. The result: an ordeal and a defeat for the Fighting Irish 33 to 20. The statistics against Louisville’s pass rush: 5 sacks allowed and multiple pressures. Behind this offensive line, quarterback Sam Hartman is intercepted twice, after throwing… none since the start of the season. As bad news never comes alone, he also commits 2 fumbles, and all are lost.

Among this offensive line, we find Joe Alt. A player with certain potential in the first round in 2024, he is an indisputable starter at the left tackle position. We revealed his flaws during this week’s podcast dedicated to him. And there was no shortage of it, especially during plays requiring a pass. Louisville’s pass-rushing duo, Ashton Gillotte and Mason Reiger, did not hesitate to put the powerful and massive player in great difficulty.

Thanks to his ability to be mobile moving forward, he seemed more comfortable in ground games. However, in a professional league increasingly focused on the passing game, the offensive tackle has perhaps lost credibility with the NFL recruiters who came to supervise him. However, he remains a young player, with room for improvement.

Other disappointments: Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas), Tyler Van Dyke (QB, Miami (FL))

Action of the week

In an atmosphere of madness, the Red River Showdown opposing Oklahoma to Texas kept all its promises. An undecided match until the end. With 15 seconds left, Dillon Gabriel found Nic Anderson for the winning touchdown. Once again, watch left tackle Walter Rouse on this play (number 75).

The bonus of the week

Perhaps the stupidest action of the week. Miami (FL) needed to put its knees on the ground to win against Georgia Tech. Instead, they decide to run…and commit a fumble. 2 plays later, Haynes King found Christian Leary for the winning touchdown, beating Kamren Kinchens in the process.

SEE ALSO:  [NCAA] Everything you need to know about the 2023 university season
October 8, 2023
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